government provides free access (at least 80 percent) to essential psychotropic medicines for the total population. The cost of antipsychotic medication is Rf 3 per day and antidepressant medication is Rf 2 per day (WHO and MoH 2006). The green prescription medicines are available from State Trading Organization PLC (STO) pharmacies for registered psychiatric patients resident in Male’. If the registered patient is residing in Male’, the patient is first required to have a consultation with a psychiatrist (consultation fee to be paid on own). Following the consultation the psychiatrist issues a green prescription. When the green prescription and registration card is presented to the Medical Welfare Assistance Section of the Department of Gender and Family Protection Services of the Ministry of Health and Family Ministry, the Ministry puts an endorsement stamp. Patients resident in an island other than Male’ have to visit the health facility available in the island and make a request for medication. Registered patients have to present the registration card and an “old” prescription to request for free medication. The Health Center then notes the medicines prescribed for the patient and requests the Ministry through the atoll hospital for three months medicines. Once the Ministry receives the request, and if there are any psychotic drugs in the list then the Ministry writes to Food and Drug Authority to get permission for issuing those psychotic drugs. When Ministry receives approval from Food and Drug Authority then a requisition is sent to STO Pharmacy. Once the Ministry receives the medicines it is sent ACTIVITIES ADDRESSING RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES to the atoll hospital through STO supply. For non-psychotic drugs the Ministry writes directly ... 48 to STO and medicine is sent as above. 7.3 Residential care Residential care has been available at the Home for People with Special Needs since 06 June 1976. In mid 2009, the state was providing residential care for 119 psychiatric patients and 46 geriatric patients at the Home for People with Special Needs. The home is built on an area of 103,964 square feet in Guraidhoo, Kaafu Atoll. This is the only facility of its kind in the Maldives. There are 173 residential care beds available for persons with disabilities at the Home for People with Special Needs. A total of 173 beds are available in six different wards. A seventh ward was constructed in 2009 and has 32 additional beds. This ward will become operational